The Chief Justice of Ghana, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has been invited by the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil as a Special Guest of Honour at the court's bicentennial celebration. The year long celebration, which started from May this year and is being marked with series of monthly conferences on judicial review, will reach a climax in May 2008. Mrs Justice Wood is expected to be a keynote speaker at one of the monthly reviews. The invitation was at the instance of the President of the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil, Justice Ellen Gracie. A letter of invitation which was presented to the Chief Justice by the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Luis Fernando Serra and signed by Justice Gracie, who also happens to be the first female President of the Judiciary in Brazil, said "on behalf of all my colleagues, I wish to express our regards and extend to you an invitation to visit the Federal Supreme Court this year, at a date of your convenience, in order to begin an exchange of experiences for future co-operation between the judiciaries of both our countries". The letter further stated that "it would be a great honour if you could find the time in your schedule to take part in one of our conferences as a special guest and keynote speaker on the subject, or another of your preference". In response, the CJ, who is of Brazilian descent, accepted the invitation, saying that it was an honour to the country and the Judicial Service as a whole, adding that it would help both countries to learn from each other some of the best practices of the judiciary of both countries. She said it would also afford both countries the time to deepen relationship not only economically but in the judiciary as well, adding that both countries had made progress in business and culture but needed to explore each other's judicial dispensation for their benefit. The Brazilian Ambassador who was accompanied by the Head of Cultural Affairs of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, Counselor Marco Farani, said Ghana's Chief Justice was chosen due to her personality and the common bond between her and Justice Gracie as both were the first female Chief Justices of their respective countries. Source: Daily Graphic